Exhurst

This is a farmhouse, likely with a special function, now a house. It probably originated in the late 14th or early 15th century, with significant alterations and additions in the 16th, 17th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The house is timber framed, with the southern wing rendered, the remainder in red brick, and the first floor tile-hung. The southern elevation has weatherboarding to the ground floor and applied close-studding above. The roof is tiled.

The southern wing originally comprised two timber-framed bays, possibly dating to the late 14th century, and likely formed the south end wing of an open hall. The open hall was replaced or curtailed in the later 15th century by a further storeyed wing of three or more timber-framed bays, of which only two survive. This wing runs east-west, approximately 10 feet north of the 14th-century wing, beginning a few feet west of its east end and terminating flush with its west end. The wings are linked by a north-south passage and extended to include a 17th-century stack, making it flush with the east end of the north wing. There's evidence of ground-floor subdivision in both wings, and apparently a large room at first floor in each wing.

The southern wing is jettied to the east, south, and west (underbuilt to the west), with a moulded dragon post to the south-east corner and tenoned joists to the south-west. An underbuilt jetty exists at the east gable end of the north wing. The eaves of both wings are at the same height. The south wing has hipped roofs to the east and west, with the west hip returning along an infilling section. The north wing has a hipped roof to the east, also returning along an infilling section, and a gabled roof to the west with a lower ridge.

The east elevation, which may have been the original front, has a multiple red and grey brick stack in the roof slope between the wings. The fenestration is irregular, with a two-light casement to the gable end of each wing and a single-light window below the stack. A glazed door is situated under the stack. A red brick lean-to extends from the west gable of the north wing. A two-storey 20th-century addition is to the north, constructed of red brick on the ground floor and with applied close-studding on the first floor, with a plain tile roof.

The interior features exposed timber framing. A moulded beam from the south end of the hall has been retained along the north side of the south wing, with a moulded pointed-arched doorway below at the west end. The two-bay first-floor room of the south wing has double-chamfered wall plates and end tie-beams, with a mortise in the central post for a large brace. A first-floor doorhead (possibly for a garderobe) is located at the west end of the south wall. The roof is of collared common-rafter construction, originally with a central crown post. The central and west end trusses of the north wing have moulded arch braces, tie-beams, posts with cushion stops, and octagonal crown posts. Evidence on the west end crown post suggests a continuation of the wing to the west. A shutter groove is found on the east end of the south wall of the north wing. Fireplaces possess plain jambs and chamfered bressumers. The house occupies a moated site.